Disinfecting compound.



sr rns parnn'r onnion.

JOSEIH W. ENGLAND, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH, KLINE 8: FRENCH CO., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DISINFECTING COMPOUND.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn W. ENGLAND, of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Antiseptic or Disinfeqing Compound, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new chemical compound containing mercuric iodid and ter without decomposition, I have found that the addition of three molecules (400.62 parts, by weight) of lithium iodid to one molecule (452.86 parts, by weight) of mercuric iodid gives the most satisfactory results. Such a compound is soluble in water without any sep aration or cloudiness and is not affected by dilution of the solution. From a solution containing the compound made as just stated evaporation will leave the new compound in homogeneous lemon-yellow crystals. If absolute purity is desired, the crystals may be dissolved in alcohol or ether, filtered, and the filtrate crystallized or evaporated to dryness. By this means there is left on the filter a slight grayish or brownish residue; but I find that somewhat less than 400.62 parts, by weight, of lithium iodid can be brought into clear solution with the amount of mercuric iodid mentioned, as little as 333.85 parts, by weight, corresponding to two and one-half molecules of lithium iodid, having been successfullyused. A quantitative anal sis of the product indicates that the chemica composition of the purified crystals is two and onehalf molecules of lithium iodid combined with one molecule of mercuric iodid. The reaction may therefore be represented as follows:

Qt-LiLl- Hglz (LiD JIgL 333.85+452.86 786.71

5LiI EZHgIz oLiLQHgh 667.7+905.72: 1573.42.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 20, 1904. SerialNo. 25,187-

' Patented. April 10,1906.

(Specimens) Experiments further show that one molecule of lithium iodid dissolved in water will not dissolve one molecule of mercuriciodid after continued boiling. The addition to the boilin solution. of one molecule more of lithium iodid effects solution, and from this a red compound, different from mine, is obtainable by evaporation to thorough dryness; but on further diluting with water the solution in which this compound is formed mercuric iodid is precipitated, showing that the compound (LiI) HgI is incompatible with water and for this reason not adapted for germicidal purposes.

The water-soluble compound which I have discovered crystallizes in masses of lemonyellow needles that contain considerable water of crystallization and are exceedingly deliquescent on exposure to air. When the crystals are heated, they first give off water and then melt into a reddish liquid, from which mercuric iodid separates. It is soluble without decomposition in all proportions of water, very soluble in alcohol, and soluble in ether. The aqueous solution of the com pound is an exceptionally delicate precipitant of the vegetable alkaloids. It is more powerful than mercuric chlorid or the usual mercuric salts in its action on bacteria and their toxins and can be used as a disinfectant against all forms of infection. I Vhen the solution is used as a disinfectant, it does not form insoluble and inert compounds with blood serum, albumins, fixed alkalies, or ammonia, as does corrosivesublimate solution. It is not corrosive, and the compound containing only about one-third. as much combined mercury as corrosive sublimate is much less poisonous. By reason of the fact that it is not readily decomposed by the substances usually accompanyingbacteria its destructive influence on bacterial life is much more positive and. uniform, a less quantity being required to perform a given amount of work, and as a *result of this, as well as the presence of iodin, which stimulates the elimination of mercury and the products of retrograde cellular changes, the danger of mercurial poisoning by absorption is reduced to a minimum.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- A lithiomercuric-iodid compound consistl my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ing of mercuric iodid and lithium iodid in this 16th day of September, 1904. chemical combination forming lemon-yellow crystals, and characterized by deliquescenoe, JOSEPH ENGLAND 5 and solubility, Without decomposition, in Witnesses:

Water, in alcohol, or in ether. JAMES H. BELL,

In Witness whereof Ihave hereunto signed EVA L. FULLERTON. 

